Hawthorne’s early work focused on the structural and crystal-chemical problems of amphiboles using experimental techniques such as X-ray and neutron diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. He then worked on a series of complex crystal-chemistry problems involving rock-forming minerals using novel analytical and spectroscopic methods. Results of his work have helped understand the conditions that occur during the progressive crystallization of magmas. Frank is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada, and has received numerous prestigious awards for his work. He also has a mineral named after him (Frankhawthorneite). Frank is a member of the CGU’s Solid Earth Section (SES).